Improvement in attaching armor-plates to vessels



UNITED STATES JOSEPH RUSCH, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.,

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOSEPH LUX, OF SAME PLACE. Y

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,353, dated May 20,1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH RSCH, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented a newaud Improved Mode of Securing lron Armor-Platesto llortitications, Hulls of Ships, &c. and l do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description of my said invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

The invention consists in the mode of securing the armor-plates, which,by the plan proposed, is effected by running continuous angular clampsor tongues of the shape indicated along and into the corresponding edgesor grooves of the plates, as shown by the annexed drawings, and sinkingor embedding these continuous clamps into the body to which they may beattached, as also shown by said drawings.

Figure l represents a part. ol' a transverse vertical section of thehull of a ship, the lower part ot' which shows the sheathingcomplet/emi. e., the tongues and grooves of the clamps and platesseverallyand also the mode of sinking or embedding and securing theclamps. Fig. 2 represents an elevation ol' the same, showing thecontinuity of the clamps with and without the armor, andhori- Zontallyas well as vertically. Fig. I3 represent-s a 'full-size section of theseam, showing the position o'll the plates and clamps when secured andthe mode ot' interlockingl and ot' securing the same.

A A is the plankiug proper.

.l B is an extra thickness ot planking.

U is the bolt.

I) is the clamp, showing the tongues, and E E are the plates, showingthe grooves.

lt will be seen that by this method of sheathing t-he wedge-likeposterior ot' the cla-mp is let into the outer planking, thus wedgingand strengthening the whole at the same time that this extra plankingserves as a support to t-he armor, which latter, by the mode offastening heretofore used, is supported exclusively by the bolts orpins.

Ct a a, Fig. l, represent the planking proper. l) b represent the outerplanking or bedding 'for the sheathing.

lf simple bolts or pins be used, the plates have no hold or support,except suoli as is afforded by these alternate and partial fastenings,whereas by my method each plate is wedged into the clamps through itsentire length and breadth, leaving the plates free ot' borings. ly theformer method both the lateral and gravitating weight of the armor hangson and is supported by these pins or bolts. By my method the gravitatingor dead weight of the armor (by far the most considerable) restsprincipally upon the planking h l) b and is supported by it, while thestrain on the pins or screws is comparatively light; and these screwsthemselves may be multiplied to any desired extent without weakening anypart of the sheathing', as is the case where the pins connect directlywith the plates, as in the old method.

'lVhat l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The combination of the additional planking or bed B B, bolt C,continuous clamp D, and grooved armor-plate E E, all constructed andapplied in the manner and for the purposes herein shown and described.

JOSEPH RUSCH. lVitnesses:

N. B. MoUNTEoRT, JOSEPH A. NEssELER.

